I choose you

I choose you. The words rang through my head as I sat staring at my small group leader about to marry the love of her life.

This past Friday I had the honor of going to a wedding for two of the most amazing, God-fearing people I have met. Allie, the bride, was my small group leader. she has been with me through thick and thin and stuck with our group even in her crazy life. Stan, the groom, is a worship leader. he bring passion and life to the stage every time he is up there.

The ceremony was stunning. the officiator did spectacular, but the vows struck me. when Allie and Stan recited their vows the first line was “I choose you, insert name here” I remember sitting in my chair and I got major goosebumps. when I thought about it, it shook my world. both Allie and Stan in that moment are saying “without a doubt you are who I want to be with. you are who I want to spend my life with, make decisions with. you are who I choose to do life with.” what struck me was the idea that God has said that to us.

God has said we are his CHOSEN people. God has a choice. He can chose who to love. He can chose to only love the people who attend church regularly or the people who seem to be living life the “right” way, but He didn’t do that. He CHOSE to love us all. After Adam and Eve sinned He could have just walked away saying to himself, “I knew these people were going to screw everything up. I’m going to create a different, new world with people who will choose me and I will in turn choose them.” BUT HE DID NOT.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4

When God sees us He does sees us as holy and blameless. He doesn’t see us for the lie we told when we were seven, that time we got drunk, or even the time we went against Him. He sees us as His children who he dearly loves. He gives us an open invitation to be loved. When Jesus died on that cross, that was his invitation. Jesus was the vow. Jesus was the “I choose you”.

at the wedding, both Allie and Stan said they chose each other. it would have been awkward if Stan chose Allie, but Allie said “yeah you’re cool for now, but I may want to go my own way later.” they both stood in front of their loved ones and declared that they chose each other. God has already chosen you. now it’s your turn to choose him.